Aaron Glenn Joins Ben Johnson as Latest Head Coaching Hire: A Look at the NFL’s Ongoing Coaching Carousel
With Glenn joining the Jets and Ben Johnson heading to the Chicago Bears, the coaching shakeup continues to take shape, with Mike Vrabel already making the move to New England. This leaves four NFL teams still in search of new leaders for their franchises: the Saints, Jaguars, Raiders, and Cowboys.
Johnson, Detroit’s former offensive coordinator, made his decision on Monday, just two days after the Lions’ season-ending loss to Washington. Glenn, who previously served as the Lions’ defensive coordinator, is making a return to the Jets, where his NFL journey began in 1994 as a Pro Bowl cornerback.
Here’s a breakdown of how each team is navigating their head coach search:
Dallas Cowboys
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Cowboys’ head coach position after Mike McCarthy’s departure. Deion Sanders, a close friend of owner Jerry Jones, has been mentioned, although no formal discussions have taken place yet. Former Cowboys star Jason Witten, who played 16 of his 17 seasons in Dallas, is another name being floated, though he hasn’t received an interview either.
Dallas has already interviewed a range of candidates, including Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (who also served as Dak Prescott’s play-caller for four years) and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh. The team also spoke with former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier. Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, was interviewed Tuesday, and could be a key contender for the role.
This will mark Jones’ ninth head coach hire since he bought the Cowboys in 1989, following the controversial firing of the legendary Tom Landry.
Las Vegas Raiders
After a disappointing season, the Raiders made changes at the top, firing Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco. This move opens the door for new minority owner Tom Brady to have a significant say in the team’s future direction. The Raiders recently hired John Spytek as their new general manager, who worked as the assistant GM in Tampa Bay during Brady’s tenure.
Las Vegas has already conducted interviews or requested meetings with candidates like Johnson, Glenn, Pete Carroll (former Seahawks and USC head coach), Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Saleh, and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars made waves on Wednesday by firing general manager Trent Baalke shortly after Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen opted to stay in Tampa Bay. The team has conducted interviews with a variety of coaching candidates, including Johnson, Glenn, Spagnuolo, Moore, Joe Brady (Bills OC), and Todd Monken. Saleh and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are expected to receive second interviews this week.
After a playoff win and two winning seasons under Doug Pederson, the Jaguars’ 4-13 record in 2024 forced them to search for new leadership.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are continuing their search for a head coach, with second-round interviews scheduled for Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who went 3-5 following Dennis Allen’s firing, is also in the running. Other candidates already interviewed include Joe Brady, Moore, and former Stanford head coach David Shaw.
As the coaching carousel spins into full motion, these teams are making moves to find their next leaders. Keep an eye on how the situation evolves as we inch closer to the start of the next NFL season.
